No Burp: When the Cricopharyngeus Won't Let Go
Description
What happens when you can’t burp? In this episode, we sit down with laryngologist Dr. Michael Lerner, and speech-language pathologist Andrew Keltz MS, CCC-SLP who specialize in voice and upper-airway disorders to unpack retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (RCPD)—a condition sometimes called “no-burp syndrome.”
Together, they discuss how dysfunction of the cricopharyngeus muscle leads to trapped air, pressure, and discomfort—and how emerging medical and behavioral approaches are helping patients find relief. From Botox injections to the “BERP” (Behavioral Eructation Retraining Protocol), this episode bridges the science and the lived experience behind restoring one of the body’s most overlooked reflexes.
Tune in for insights, patient perspectives, and the collaborative teamwork that makes this condition treatable.
United States
